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| Calgary Tower under construction - Glenbow Archives |
Should be a couple of weeks for the re-launch. Stay tuned!
LP
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Spring Overhaul
I am so very happy to announce that this blog is officially Under Construction.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Chill Out... Space
Hiya! Hi! Long time, non? Happy to be back - to be writing again. It's been an 'eventful' month - some unexpected challenges. I caught the flu (probably from some germy kid) the first week back from Christmas holidays, then for some totally bizarre reason, lost my eyesight - not totally but enough that I couldn't drive or look at the computer - plus a whole slew of other symptoms. I went to 62 different doctors and specialists (including an opthamologist, naturopath, massage therapist, and osteopath), some said it was allergies (not sure I've come across a Claritin brand for blindness), some sinusitis, most had absolutely no clue. The most widely accepted theory was computer burn out (again, weird) so I was ordered to stay away from the screen for 2 weeks. I temporarily cut back my schedule at work, arranged a team of drivers and muddled my way through the next couple of weeks reading scads of books and writing building histories out by hand. Some people are great at being sick. You never know that anything's wrong - not one complaint. I suck at sick. I loathe with every cell in my body not knowing what the cause is and am paralyzed by pain. And my poor husband had to hear about every single symptom recapped in detailed minutiae including his very favourite a couple of weeks ago: "I think I'm allergic to my face"
I started to keep a journal of every weird symptom that was happening and scheduled another appointment with my naturopath with the list in hand. He finally pinned it down to adrenal failure and that somehow it had compromised my thyroid, which essentially made my auto-immune system attack itself. See more information here. Explains the full range of totally bizarre symptoms, including exhaustion, blindness, eye pressure, massive headaches 24-7 and a whole range of other splendid goodies. I've been put on a very strict, boring diet that includes a whole lot of 'no' (no sugar, wheat, corn, potatoes, peppers, milk, cheese, red meat or alcohol [waaaahhh]), I take an epic cocktail of naturopathic drops and consume an entire school of fish oil/probiotics/vitamin D daily. In the week that I've been on this program, I'm improving drastically every day. I can look at the computer without pain, can stay up past 8pm and I'm finally driving again (although the chauffeuring around town was starting to grow on me). The cause was a perfect storm of extreme stress, poor eating and getting sick (so... Christmas).
Being partially blind, trapped inside in the dead of winter and having no joy in anything I was eating gives you good perspective on life. Like how had I managed to get on SEVEN volunteer committees? Why was I continuing to work 70 hours a week, then coming home to blog/tweet/pin/FB about it? Then proceed to spend entire weekends running around the city trying to find the perfect shade of teal for a pillow for my couch sandwiched between endless kids activities, birthday parties and playdates...
My entire 2013 has, by brute force, slowed me down - I'm down to one volunteer position with a group I really value and enjoy, I've started a meditation course with 'Ginger' at the Canadian Meditation Institute (it's seriously the hardest thing I've ever had to do - I have to sit. still. for 1.5 hours with my eyes closed) and I've streamlined my online use to things I really love, like this blog (and pinning - hot damn I love Pinterest).
As part of the 'slow life' program, we decided to convert the office into a chill room - think mounds of gooshy pillows, layered rugs, Buddha statues and a new pallet couch that H made from a bunch of free pallets and a futon mattress. For the first time in my life, I painted out an entire room in white, including trim. It's killing me to not have a coloured feature wall. Have you seen the new deep green hues this year? Plus we diverged from our usual mid century style into an eclectic ethnic mix with some traditional elements (GASP!) mixed in. Here's the inspiration (I'll update with photos of the room tomorrow - it looks better in the sunshine).
I'm really happy with the final design - such a departure from my mcm 'esque-ness - plus turned out to function perfectly as an oasis from the frenetics of daily life.
LP
I started to keep a journal of every weird symptom that was happening and scheduled another appointment with my naturopath with the list in hand. He finally pinned it down to adrenal failure and that somehow it had compromised my thyroid, which essentially made my auto-immune system attack itself. See more information here. Explains the full range of totally bizarre symptoms, including exhaustion, blindness, eye pressure, massive headaches 24-7 and a whole range of other splendid goodies. I've been put on a very strict, boring diet that includes a whole lot of 'no' (no sugar, wheat, corn, potatoes, peppers, milk, cheese, red meat or alcohol [waaaahhh]), I take an epic cocktail of naturopathic drops and consume an entire school of fish oil/probiotics/vitamin D daily. In the week that I've been on this program, I'm improving drastically every day. I can look at the computer without pain, can stay up past 8pm and I'm finally driving again (although the chauffeuring around town was starting to grow on me). The cause was a perfect storm of extreme stress, poor eating and getting sick (so... Christmas).
Being partially blind, trapped inside in the dead of winter and having no joy in anything I was eating gives you good perspective on life. Like how had I managed to get on SEVEN volunteer committees? Why was I continuing to work 70 hours a week, then coming home to blog/tweet/pin/FB about it? Then proceed to spend entire weekends running around the city trying to find the perfect shade of teal for a pillow for my couch sandwiched between endless kids activities, birthday parties and playdates...
My entire 2013 has, by brute force, slowed me down - I'm down to one volunteer position with a group I really value and enjoy, I've started a meditation course with 'Ginger' at the Canadian Meditation Institute (it's seriously the hardest thing I've ever had to do - I have to sit. still. for 1.5 hours with my eyes closed) and I've streamlined my online use to things I really love, like this blog (and pinning - hot damn I love Pinterest).
As part of the 'slow life' program, we decided to convert the office into a chill room - think mounds of gooshy pillows, layered rugs, Buddha statues and a new pallet couch that H made from a bunch of free pallets and a futon mattress. For the first time in my life, I painted out an entire room in white, including trim. It's killing me to not have a coloured feature wall. Have you seen the new deep green hues this year? Plus we diverged from our usual mid century style into an eclectic ethnic mix with some traditional elements (GASP!) mixed in. Here's the inspiration (I'll update with photos of the room tomorrow - it looks better in the sunshine).
Pallet Couch. Source: French By Design
Layers and animal heads - surprisingly tough to find in Alberta. Also French By Design
Blocks of wood for tables. Soucre: Daniella Witte
Art. I love every single one of these prints. Source: River Luna on Etsy
Leather butterfly chair, ethnic rug, and piles of books. And that green wall. Swoon. Source: SF Girl By Bay
Possible light. Satellite 6 Pendant by Schoolhouse Electric - they ship to Canada - yehaw!
I'm really happy with the final design - such a departure from my mcm 'esque-ness - plus turned out to function perfectly as an oasis from the frenetics of daily life.
LP
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Post Christmas
H and I have forever been fans of the immediate post Christmas take down. Barely unwrapped presents and we're packing up the Christmas village and roof racking the Christmas tree. This year has been different. It's what, now the 27th? and there's nary a 'xmas box 1 of 9' in sight. Maybe it's the first white Christmas we've had here...
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| Hoar?? frost. (ha.) |
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| Baking sugar cookies with electric blue icing. These were gone well before Christmas. |
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| Christmas tree cutting in the mountains. |
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| Deciding where to cut the trees. Young ones were creeping 'snow cheetahs'. Made for some glacial tree hunting. |
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| Success!! Sort of. (We're in the prairies - this became a room tree) |
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| Anticipation. |
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| Belief. |
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| New Friends. |
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| Christmas fire. (It was -25 Christmas day - you're on your own, buddy) |
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| Joy. (Christmas dinner with friends and fancy bourbon drinks) |
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| Solace. |
LP
Sunday, December 2, 2012
An Ode to the Bungalow
A feature on CBC radio I was interviewed for last month. I'm always reticent to post radio interviews. I swear I don't know what to do with my hands.
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| A Calgary Bungalow 'After' |
LP
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Ebay Finds
I always forget about Ebay. These are some of my covets...
LP
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| It's a Kangaroo. Wine. Holder. |
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Serge Mouille Flytrap Floor Lamp |
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| Groovy Alarm Clock |
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| Art Deco Teapot - since I melted the last one onto my stove. Yes. I did. |
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| Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini People bottle - So strange, yet functional. |
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| Walter Bosse Hedgehog Ashtray (amazing) |
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| Hans Wegner Papa Bear Chair - original fabric - gorgeous. |
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| Rocking Chair - beautiful lines. |
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Sergio Rodrigues Sheriff Chair and Ottoman by Stendig - and only $6700. wah? |
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| These guys are adorable - Jacob Jensen Vikings |
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| 1970s Crystal Chandelier - I love 70's disco-esque decor |
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Study Area
We live in close proximity to a C-train station (light rail train) in the inner city in C-town. When we were looking to buy prior to moving out here, I was keen to find something close to transit - for two main reasons:
1. I'm generally lazy and don't like driving
2. Potential increase in resale value due to proximity (which we were planning to do after 2 years)
What I didn't factor into my best laid, 2-year plan was that I would fall madly in love with my house. Drafty windows*, ugly pink bathroom and creepy wood stairs and all. Crap. So we've decided to stay longer than originally anticipated.
Now we have been swacked in the back of the head with a new layer of complication. The TOD (Transit Oriented Development). Dunh Dunh Dunh...
The City of Calgary is all over the TOD, which boils down to increased, mixed density around transit stops. I think densification is a critical step for building sustainable cities - I really do. (Lordy knows I love Portland). Particularly if the development interfaces well with the neighbourhood, respects its original character and is designed to engage in the same way that a neighbourhood unit typically functions (see below - gooorrrrgggeeeouuusss). Unfortunately, TOD's also affect historic neighbourhoods (with smaller houses) and many are under threat in the city from complete annihilation and replacement with soaring multi unit buildings.
When it boils down to it, it's not the planning initiative that I fear but how the policies translate in the real world. Inevitably, when a developer gets involved (who is ultimately bottom line driven), the neighbourhood is under risk of getting stuck with an ugly stucco clad monstrosity with bad vinyl windows and Lee-Press-On faux river rock. The only solace is that the building will likely be built with such cheap material that it won't even last 30 years.
ok ok - I'm over-reacting. But it's warranted. Last week we received a letter from the city requesting our participation in an upcoming stakeholder consultation. Our property and several other neighbours were demarked within a red lined boundary known as 'The Study Area'. Then a couple days later when I'm out, a friendly realtor knocks on our door, wondering if we would have any interest in selling - her client, (a developer) has been amassing properties near ours for the last few years. The developer picked up a number of smaller bungalows on the cheap which they are either renting or just generally neglecting in hopes of lowering their neighbourhood value. We're one of the last few he needs. H. (hubby) takes the realtor on a tour of the house, shows her everything we've updated, peeled back, buffed, painted. She smiles politely, looks disinterested and tells him to give her a call to discuss things after he talks to me. H. googles the developer. They reno and flip cheap apartment units. This is not good news.
So now what? We own a ubiquitous mid century house. What are our options? Do we historically designate (so it cannot be torn down)? Can we even historically designate as ours is a fairly modest mid century house? What if we need to sell and designation scares off potential buyers? What if we don't designate and our perfect little prairie house is torn down?
I am constantly telling clients in my heritage business that a heritage house is one of the most powerful bargaining tools you can have. And now that I'm in that very same situation, I certainly don't feel very powerful...
LP
*the ones we haven't restored
1. I'm generally lazy and don't like driving
2. Potential increase in resale value due to proximity (which we were planning to do after 2 years)
What I didn't factor into my best laid, 2-year plan was that I would fall madly in love with my house. Drafty windows*, ugly pink bathroom and creepy wood stairs and all. Crap. So we've decided to stay longer than originally anticipated.
Now we have been swacked in the back of the head with a new layer of complication. The TOD (Transit Oriented Development). Dunh Dunh Dunh...
The City of Calgary is all over the TOD, which boils down to increased, mixed density around transit stops. I think densification is a critical step for building sustainable cities - I really do. (Lordy knows I love Portland). Particularly if the development interfaces well with the neighbourhood, respects its original character and is designed to engage in the same way that a neighbourhood unit typically functions (see below - gooorrrrgggeeeouuusss). Unfortunately, TOD's also affect historic neighbourhoods (with smaller houses) and many are under threat in the city from complete annihilation and replacement with soaring multi unit buildings.
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| ooh_food on Flickr |
ok ok - I'm over-reacting. But it's warranted. Last week we received a letter from the city requesting our participation in an upcoming stakeholder consultation. Our property and several other neighbours were demarked within a red lined boundary known as 'The Study Area'. Then a couple days later when I'm out, a friendly realtor knocks on our door, wondering if we would have any interest in selling - her client, (a developer) has been amassing properties near ours for the last few years. The developer picked up a number of smaller bungalows on the cheap which they are either renting or just generally neglecting in hopes of lowering their neighbourhood value. We're one of the last few he needs. H. (hubby) takes the realtor on a tour of the house, shows her everything we've updated, peeled back, buffed, painted. She smiles politely, looks disinterested and tells him to give her a call to discuss things after he talks to me. H. googles the developer. They reno and flip cheap apartment units. This is not good news.
So now what? We own a ubiquitous mid century house. What are our options? Do we historically designate (so it cannot be torn down)? Can we even historically designate as ours is a fairly modest mid century house? What if we need to sell and designation scares off potential buyers? What if we don't designate and our perfect little prairie house is torn down?
I am constantly telling clients in my heritage business that a heritage house is one of the most powerful bargaining tools you can have. And now that I'm in that very same situation, I certainly don't feel very powerful...
LP
*the ones we haven't restored
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Cow Town Low Down: Louche Milieu
I hit a bit of a rough patch this spring and unbeknown to me, apparently every cell in my body thwarted me from my blog this summer and redirected me to a (insert one) [patio, backyard barbecue, hike in the rockies, garden and river float]. It was a glorious summer; the hottest on record here in Cow-town since, get this, 1881. And hot for Cow-town, because it's glacial here most of the time, is really very pleasant (25-30 Celsius) and solid. sun. Honestly, you couldn't have paid me enough to leave my backyard this summer. I did loads of gardening, barbecuing and have 130,000 mini tomatoes I have no idea what to do with. And I feel totally refreshed and ready to tackle some indoor fall/winter projects as well as a blog re-design which I plan to launch in the new year.
So while relishing in my selfish summer, a brand spanking new/old mid century storey opened in Calgary: Louche Milieu - 'Living Modern like it's mid-century' (now why didn't I think of that?)
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| The lovely Laura in her store |
Owner Laura Atkins has been collecting and selling mid century furniture and jewellery for some time now and finally found a perfect little spot in a converted garage in the Wildwood neighbourhood (in the same mid century strip mall as my buddies, People Food).
I had a chance to visit the store shortly after it opened in August (and found a couple of pieces for my collection). Her pieces are thoughtfully curated and exquisitely arranged in a visual smorgasbord of want/need. Only the sexiest legged mcm furniture and glammy glam costume jewellery seem eligible to cross the threshold of her indulgent little store. She also carries, when available, those wish list classic mcm pieces like a beautifully intact Eero Saarinen marble topped 'tulip' dining table, Herman Miller/Eames rocker, and a Hans Wegner 'X' table with danish cord CH23 chairs circa 1965. I warned her not to tell me if she finds an Eero Saarinen Womb Chair, cause lordy knows I need a new pink bathroom...
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| MCM feast of fields |
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I might need to pick up that little yellow mirror in the corner.... |
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| Gorgeous coffee table. I need to profile Gordon Atkins work soon (a native Calgarian) |
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| Did I mention the vintage bags and german pottery? |
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| Scores: mcm vase and print by local artist, Thedor. |
Tell her I sent you. But don't buy the stereo if it's still there. It's mine. (kidding)
LP
Monday, August 13, 2012
Prairie House Unveiled
We're only half done, but I can't wait one more minute to share...
Before...
And After....
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| Note all the high points are unpainted. Fear of heights in our house, perhaps? |
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| This poor poor door has been painted so many times. Soon to be replaced with a Crestview. |
Colours:
Body/Trim: Cloverdale Paint - Colour match to Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (Flat for body, Satin for trim)
Door: Pratt & Lambert - eeek!! Can't find the paint chip. I'll update when I find it.
Still a couple weeks of painting left, including the garage. And since I'm so indecisive with doors, add a few more weeks for countless colour trials. I'm not totally sure what to do with the soffits in the interim. White is whack so we're pondering removing the aluminum to reveal the original plywood soffits. Or just paint?
We're completely in love with the final results.
I'll post some pictures of future plans for the porch.
LP
UPDATE: Door colour - Pratt & Lambert Delightful Aqua 22-7
We're completely in love with the final results.
I'll post some pictures of future plans for the porch.
LP
UPDATE: Door colour - Pratt & Lambert Delightful Aqua 22-7
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